The Rugby Championship kicks off for 2017 this weekend, starting with old foes New Zealand and Australia facing off in a match that doubles as the first of the three-match Bledisloe Cup series. So where will the two matches be played, what time do they kick off, and who will feature?

Kieran Foran admits lack of contact training on his surgically-repaired shoulder is likely to scupper a newly-sanctioned NRL return against Canterbury on Friday.

The controversial Warriors recruit has been given the green light by the NRL integrity unit to return to the field in round three, as previously scheduled, after satisfying them he has dealt sufficiently with his off-field problems.

After passing a final psychological assessment, the Kiwis playmaker's contract was rubber-stamped, leaving him free to face former mentor Des Hasler's Bulldogs in in Dunedin on Friday.

It follows a months-long probe by the integrity unit which combed through his bank and betting accounts.

But Foran doubts he'll be physically ready by then and thinks he will likely have to look to the clash with St George Illawarra in Sydney the following round or a home clash with Gold Coast a week later.

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"I'm hopeful of playing in the next couple of weeks. It probably won't be round three. If it's not round three it'll be one of the weeks after that."

Warriors boss Jim Doyle set a similar time frame, but certainly expected him back before what should be an emotional round six clash with Parramatta, the club he walked away from last year when his personal issues came to a head.

"The anticipation was always around round three-ish," Doyle said of Foran's return.

"He's still hopeful for next week but it's looking more likely to be round four but round five at the latest.

"He's got a big 10 days ahead of him with more contact more wrestle."

Foran has not played since suffering a torn bicep tendon in round 12 last year while playing for Parramatta.

After being released by the Eels in July, he has sought to pick up the pieces of his troubled life in his home country New Zealand.